Volta a Catalunya 2012 *Spoilers*

Doobz

Starting in a few hours and seems there is not much hype about this race?

Some HUGE names and the profiles should make this awesome.

Dunno about anyone else but I am quite exited.. :oops:

andyjr

Indeed there are some big names riding. Should be very interesting & provide some clues towards the grand tours later in the season

frenchfighter

Haha, those profiles make this race look dangerously hilly!

Wiggins to ride calmly and for his teammates as far as I am aware.

smithy21

Yes, it would appear so. Assume this is Uran's gig as far as Sky are concerned. Looking forward to seeing how he goes. I've always liked him as a rider.

frenchfighter

frenchfighter

Last three winners: Contador, Rodriguez, Valverde

Doobz

Just checked out the rider list again and there are so many names that need to step up to the plate and show some form.

I cant seem to recall if Andy Schleck is still riding or if he has some health issues?

inkyfingers

frenchfighter wrote:

Last three winners: Contador, Rodriguez, Valverde

Last three winners: Scarponi, Rodriguez, Valverde

This is a difficult one to call, Valverde is really the only one of the big favourites to have shown good form this year but there are lots of guys on that start list who are capable of winning.

frenchfighter

Queen stage last year where Contador attacked and soloed to the win to wrap up the GC. Good viewing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11BrgxGU ... r_embedded

victorponf

Stage 1 and provisional overall:
1º 62 ALBASINI, Michael SUI GREENEDGE CYCLING TE 3:20:04
2º 222 DELAPLACE, Anthony FRA SAUR-SOJASUN a 42
3º 202 EDET, Nicolas FRA COFIDIS Le credit en a 01:14
4º 172 VAN HUMMEL, Kenny NED VACANSOLEIL-DMC a 01:32
5º 4 GASTAUER, Ben LUX AG2R LA MONDIALE a 01:32
6º 215 KLUGE, Roger GER PROJECT 1t4i a 01:32
7º 61 DAVIS, Allan AUS GREENEDGE CYCLING TE a 01:32
8º 93 SABATINI, Fabio ITA LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE a 01:32
9º 155 APOLONIO, Davide ITA SKY PROCYCLING a 01:32
10º 16 GAVAZZI, Francesco ITA ASTANA PRO TEAM a 01:32

victorponf

Last km

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... zr86lLgQC8

Ron Stuart

Only six riders from Sky!

frenchfighter

So when I saw J-Rod not riding I thought it a little odd, especially as this route suits him nicely.

Then I see:
@mrconde tweeted that "Purito got new cycling shoes during Tirreno, won the following stage but is now injuried in the Achilles tendon because of the new shoes."

And from the man himself:
"I had very old shoes and decided to change them for new ones,” he stated from Tenerife in the Canary Islands, where he is currently recovering. “It was a mistake. I know very well that you should never do in a race, because sometimes a slight change in the position of the cleat can cause these problems, but I fell into the temptation and there is no turning back now.”

Rodriguez has been forced to take three days off the bike in order to try to get over the issue. He is being helped by the masseur Jaime Hernandez, who is trying to speed the process.

"I am here with Dani [team-mate Dani Moreno – ed.] and my massage therapist who is treating me with Indiba physiotherapy treatment [incorporating heat – ed.], which is most suitable for these cases. I hope to recover soon and that does not get worse."

Rodriguez, the 2010 UCI WorldTour champion, has had a solid start to the season. He was seventh in the Tour of Oman, won that penultimate stage of Tirreno-Adriatico and finished sixth overall. He’s got big goals for the year ahead, not least targetting a victory in one of the Ardennes Classics, and hopes to get back on track as soon as possible.

"I noticed the first discomfort in the last stage of the Tirreno, the day after my victory,” he said. “Fortunately I stopped in time and do not think the injury is very serious. I hope to recover and be in perfect condition for my next appointment, the GP Miguel Indurain and the Vuelta al Pais Vasco."

Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11410 ... z1pb1Mze8W

frenchfighter

Albasini:

liquor box

frenchfighter wrote:

So when I saw J-Rod not riding I thought it a little odd, especially as this route suits him nicely.

Then I see:
@mrconde tweeted that "Purito got new cycling shoes during Tirreno, won the following stage but is now injuried in the Achilles tendon because of the new shoes."

And from the man himself:
"I had very old shoes and decided to change them for new ones,” he stated from Tenerife in the Canary Islands, where he is currently recovering. “It was a mistake. I know very well that you should never do in a race, because sometimes a slight change in the position of the cleat can cause these problems, but I fell into the temptation and there is no turning back now.”

Rodriguez has been forced to take three days off the bike in order to try to get over the issue. He is being helped by the masseur Jaime Hernandez, who is trying to speed the process.

"I am here with Dani [team-mate Dani Moreno – ed.] and my massage therapist who is treating me with Indiba physiotherapy treatment [incorporating heat – ed.], which is most suitable for these cases. I hope to recover soon and that does not get worse."

Rodriguez, the 2010 UCI WorldTour champion, has had a solid start to the season. He was seventh in the Tour of Oman, won that penultimate stage of Tirreno-Adriatico and finished sixth overall. He’s got big goals for the year ahead, not least targetting a victory in one of the Ardennes Classics, and hopes to get back on track as soon as possible.

"I noticed the first discomfort in the last stage of the Tirreno, the day after my victory,” he said. “Fortunately I stopped in time and do not think the injury is very serious. I hope to recover and be in perfect condition for my next appointment, the GP Miguel Indurain and the Vuelta al Pais Vasco."

Read more: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/11410 ... z1pb1Mze8W

I just dont understand how a pro team can allow this to happen.

Surely there is some way of measuring accurately the position of the cleat and repreating it on other shoes.

Good luck with recovery though

frenchfighter

Stage 2 last climb is familiar training ground for many pros.

Abdoujaparov

Anyone got some deets on the last climb today? Looks steep from the stage profile, but they can be misleading.

Abdoujaparov

Gonna be a difficult to race to call cos it'll be decide in one stage. Any sensible GC rider would save himself for tomorrow.

frenchfighter

Abdoujaparov wrote:

Anyone got some deets on the last climb today? Looks steep from the stage profile, but they can be misleading.

6km at 5.5% av, max 8%

ilm_zero7

40 km to go and all fairly compact
Snow tomorrow!

ilm_zero7

Valverde reckons he is going to the TdF apparently - best show well here today, but it is the Omega boys pushing on right now

rick_chasey

ILM Zero7 wrote:

Valverde reckons he is going to the TdF apparently - best show well here today, but it is the Omega boys pushing on right now

Who for?

jonginge

Rick Chasey wrote:

ILM Zero7 wrote:

Valverde reckons he is going to the TdF apparently - best show well here today, but it is the Omega boys pushing on right now

Who for?

Leipheimer, I assume. Probably smarting a bit about P-N

rick_chasey

So he started?

I see.

Makes sense.

andyp

Abdoujaparov wrote:

Anyone got some deets on the last climb today? Looks steep from the stage profile, but they can be misleading.

I've ridden both sides of it with Allan Peiper on a training camp and, when asked what category it would be if it was used in a race, he said either 2nd or 3rd depending on how late in the stage it was. I'm not sure how it makes it as a Cat 1, it's not particularly long or steep.

afx237vi

Valverde 1 minute behind for some unknown reason.

afx237vi

Tejay attacks, the Limpet latches on.

frenchfighter

I think Valverde is 1min off the back of the peloton due to mechanicals but difficult to tell with the info available.

ilm_zero7

levi marking TJ very closely....

Valverde dropped, and all his helpers spent

ilm_zero7

Sky looking very well drilled - 4 in the top 10 group

frenchfighter

Huge effort by this Movistar rider to get Valverde back on